10 Avatars - Not Enough

DASAVATHAARAM, Oscar Ravichandran's mega budget movie has actor Kamal Haasan in ten different avatars. Veteran director K S Ravikumar's dream project with Himesh Reshammiya's thunderous music and Kamal's ace performance is a movie that's sure to bombard the box-office and upset all previous records. So let us embark on this amazing journey.

Dasavathaaram, the most expected movie of 2008, features Kamal Haasan and Asin in the lead roles. Planned for release sometime in the middle of the year, Dasavathaaram is a class in itself for it features Kamal in ten different roles. K S Ravikumar is directing this mega budget movie for Oscar Ravichandran. Himesh Reshammiya from Bollywood is scoring the music. This is his debut in Kollywood.

Kamal, always known in the industry for trying out something new, is handling ten different roles in this movie. It looks like he is trying to break the record of Sivaji Ganesan's nine roles in ‘Navaratri'.

The movie is being shot in different locations in India , Malaysia and the US . When the hero does something, should not the heroine follow? Kamal's ten roles are countered by Asin's dual role in the movie. This is the first time in her career Asin is playing dual role. Mallika Sherawat appears in a very special role. She appears as a CIA agent. Another prominent actor joining the cast is Jayaprada.

Talking about Kamal's ten avataars, K.S.Ravikumar says that except for three roles that he dons, Kamal will be totally "unidentifiable" in all the others. The actor will be playing the role of both the hero and the villain in the movie. The crew of the film includes both national as well as internationally acclaimed technicians. The storyline of the movie has been kept a secret till now. Michael Westmore from Hollywood is taking care of the make ups for Kamal. The first scene of the movie was alone shot at a cost of 3 crores and Kamal appeared as a Brahmin in it.

WARNING: The following section contains SPOILER.

Story:

The movie begins with King Kulothunga of Tanjore played by Napoleon loosing the war. Frustrated by this mockery, he throws the statue of a goddess into the sea. In the same town, lives an ordinary old man who is an atheist. Though he has no faith in God, he is the one to hop and take hold of statue that is thrown into the sea.

The story immediately shifts to 21st century from 12th century and we have a foreigner tracing the same statue with the group of CIA agents among whom Malikka Sherawat is the one. In Chennai, it’s a police cop who tries saving the statue from the clutches of foreigners. So how does one of the Kamal along with the help of Asin gets back the statue forms the crux of story. Also buzzes are that the statue seems to be a biological weapon and that’s reason a great hunt goes for it!!!

Trivia:

• The unit has designed a set of the White House in Chennai’s Film City.
• There is a boat-race involving about 1000 boats.
• The famous Chidambaram temple has been recreated as a set.
• The first three minutes of the film are said to have cost the producer Rs. 3 crores.
• Asin, in her double role, appears as a 11th century Brahmin lady and a modern day girl.
• The film has a scene depicting the dangerous Tsunami attack.
• A palace set has also been put up in which Napoleon appears as an Emperor.

10 Avatars:
1 - One and only smart Kamal
2 - Athletic Chinese guy doing breathtaking stunts
3 - Old lady
4 - American Scientist (Villain)
5 - Afghan Leader (7.2ft tall)
6 - Sardarji
7 - George Bush (American President)
8 - CBI from Andhra Pradesh
9 - Scheduled Tribes Leader
10 - Rangaraja Nambi (12th century guy)

Songs:
1. UlagaNayagan (Come Dance With Me)
Singer : Vinith
Lyrics : Vairamuthu
2. Kaalai Matum Kandal
Singer : Hariharan & Chorous
Lyrics : Vaali
3. Oh…Ho..Sanam
Singer : KamalHassan & Mahalakshmi Iyer
Lyrics : Vairamuthu
4. Mukundha Mukundha
Singer : Sadhana Sargam & Kamal Hassan
Lyrics: Vaali
5. Kaa…Kaarupanukkum
Singer : Shalini Singh
Lyrics : Vairamuthu
6. Oh…Ho…Sanam (Remix)
Singer : Himesh reshmiyaa & Mahalaksmi Iyer
Lyrics : Vairamuthu

Snaps:



I am awaiting the release of this movie.

Indian Premier League - Expect The Unexpected

First, an apology to Shah Rukh Khan: you will not be mentioned in this post. And nor will you, Preity Zinta. Sorry.

So, the cricket. I keep forgetting I’m watching IPL for the cricket. Before the IPL started, a man quoted, that everyone had a strong squad, and that they were going to give 110%. At the time, these sounded like the kind of answers you get out of sportsmen every day, all round the world: non-committal, anodyne, knuckle-gnawingly tedious. But after seven matches, and with a slap in the face for my cynicism, these purveyors of fence-sitting are yet to be proved wrong.
Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils have won two out of two; Kings XI Punjab and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers (Both teams having strong batting line-ups), surprisingly, have lost two out of two. Already, five teams have a win under their belt. Already, expectations are being dashed.

Take Bangalore Royal Challengers, who were widely written off after they were McCullumed on the opening evening (there were even some absurd accusations that the team, which had barely been together for three days, was not gelling). Well, on Sunday, they overcame a hostile atmosphere and a tense runchase at the Wankhede to beat Mumbai Indians. And Rajasthan Royals, apparently shoo-ins for last place after they were brushed aside by Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, walloped the highly fancied Kings XI. And Deccan Chargers' strong batting lineup was already tested by some quality pace bowling of Darevils.

This is good news for the organisers. Since each franchise’s programme involves 14 group games at least, the IPL can ill-afford one of them to be exposed as completely useless after just three or four: sceptics will seize upon unimpressed fans and empty stadiums with relish.

But it also tells you something about the way Twenty20 works. An apparently average team can be rescued by one good innings or spell of bowling: cracks that would become chasms over five days of Test cricket can be papered over with a couple of sliders here and five meaty sixes there. Last night, Shane Warne (three for 17) and Shane Watson (76 not out off 49 balls) broke the back of the Punjabis almost by themselves, although Ravindra Jadeja deserves an honourable mention for helping Watson over the line. Bangalore, meanwhile, were rescued by the grit and experience of Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis. But, Delhi Daredevils won another match with 9 wickets (Help: Shewag's fireworks 94 not out of 41 balls).

Which raises another issue, one that will ring bells with followers of county cricket. Because however exciting it must be to watch your team being dug out of a hole by world-class cricketers, wouldn’t it be nicer if the glory went to an Indian, and preferably a young one? Ofcourse there was some occasional glimpse of this to happen in the next few matches. Maybe few names like Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kholi will be there after the likes of Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman. Let's see, what this T20 will bring to the next generation of Indian Cricket!!!